Where Does India Export Meat To? Meat Export From India 2026

Key Takeaways

• Vietnam leads meat export from India destinations in H1 2026, followed by Egypt and Malaysia, from yTrade HS 02 and HS 16 export records. The Gulf accounts for three of the top five markets, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE each absorbing more than US$140 million of India's total meat export value.
• Buffalo meat under HS 020230 dominates meat export from India and is the single largest driver of India's livestock export growth. India's livestock exports grew 44% in April–August 2026, and buffalo meat is forecast to cross $6 billion in FY 2026-27.

Meat export from India figures in this article come from yTrade HS 02 and HS 16 data from January to July 2026, covering destination-country rankings, HS subheading breakdowns, and verified supplier records for fresh, frozen and processed meat.

Which Country Buys The Most Meat From India? Meat Export From India 2026

Vietnam is India's largest meat export destination at US$273.61 million (18.17%) in H1 2026, followed by Egypt at US$181.75 million (12.07%) and Malaysia at US$176.31 million (11.71%), from yTrade's meat export data from India. Saudi Arabia and the UAE complete the top five, so five partners take over 60% of India's meat export value.

• Vietnam: US$273.61 million (18.17%) — India's largest meat export destination, a food-processing and re-export market for frozen buffalo meat.
• Egypt: US$181.75 million (12.07%) — a Middle East and North Africa buyer importing Indian buffalo meat in bulk for domestic food supply.
• Malaysia: US$176.31 million (11.71%) — a Southeast Asian halal market buying Indian meat for retail and food service.
• Saudi Arabia: US$143.55 million (9.53%) — a Gulf market with steady halal demand for buffalo and goat meat.
• United Arab Emirates: US$140.16 million (9.31%) — a Gulf hub importing Indian meat for local use and regional distribution.

#	Country of Destination	No. of Buyers	Shipments	Value (US$)	Value %
1	Vietnam	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	273,614,707.89	18.17%
2	Egypt	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	181,752,877.66	12.07%
3	Malaysia	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	176,309,442.09	11.71%
4	Saudi Arabia	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	143,547,095.92	9.53%
5	United Arab Emirates	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	140,159,690.98	9.31%
6	United States	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	109,501,755.45	7.27%
7	Uzbekistan	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	62,317,932.29	4.14%
8	Iraq	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	60,612,424.24	4.02%
9	Philippines	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	52,511,663.42	3.49%
10	Jordan	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data	26,350,765.56	1.75%

Source: yTrade, HS 02 and HS 16 export records by country of destination, January–July 2026.

Behind this ranking are 25,440 shipments across 10 destination markets. Search yTrade to filter every meat export record from India by destination, HS code and buyer — 5B+ records, results in seconds.

India's meat trade depends on a small group of repeat buyers. Southeast Asia and the Gulf and MENA region fill almost the whole top 10, because both regions have large populations, strong halal demand and food-processing industries that buy in bulk throughout the year. Meat export from India statistics show Indian buffalo meat sells into these markets at a competitive price, which keeps the same partners coming back and lifts India's overall export value.

Vietnam leads because its food-processing and re-export sector buys Indian buffalo meat at a steady price advantage. According to Tuoi Tre News, Vietnam was the top destination for Indian buffalo meat by value in FY 2025-26 at US$933.9 million, with shipment volumes of about 300,000 metric tonnes. The Gulf holds three of the top five places, since Saudi Arabia, the UAE and nearby markets carry constant halal demand for buffalo and goat meat.

Meanwhile, India's livestock exports grew 44% to US$3.132 billion in April–August 2026, reported by Global Agriculture, with buffalo meat as the single largest driver. As a result, India's established destination markets keep expanding their orders year on year.

• Five partners take over 60% of India's meat export value: Vietnam, Egypt, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE account for most of the trade.
• Vietnam bought US$933.9 million of Indian buffalo meat in FY 2025-26: making it the single largest full-year buyer by value.
• India's livestock exports grew 44% in April–August 2026: to US$3.132 billion, driven by buffalo meat demand from the same core markets.

Read more: India Export Beef To Which Countries?

What Types Of Meat Does India Export The Most?

Buffalo meat under HS 020230 leads India meat export statistics at US$1.13 billion (74.91%) in H1 2026, from yTrade's HS 02 and HS 16 export records. Prepared or preserved meat under HS 160529 ranks second at US$107.61 million (7.15%), followed by frozen boneless goat meat under HS 020629 at US$80.32 million (5.33%).

• HS 020230 (frozen boneless buffalo meat): US$1.13 billion (74.91%) — India's dominant meat export, shipped in bulk to Southeast Asia, the Gulf and MENA markets.
• HS 160529 (other prepared or preserved meat): US$107.61 million (7.15%) — processed meat products for retail and food service buyers.
• HS 020629 (other frozen boneless goat meat): US$80.32 million (5.33%) — a smaller category serving Gulf and South Asian buyers.
• HS 020421 (fresh or chilled lamb carcasses): US$79.66 million (5.29%) — fresh lamb for Gulf markets with cold-chain requirements.
• HS 020130 (fresh or chilled boneless beef): US$45.76 million (3.04%) — a fresh category serving developed-market buyers in the US and Europe.

#	HS Code	Description	Value (US$)	Weight (kg)
1	20230	Frozen boneless bovine (buffalo) meat	1,128,197,565.70	302,580,147.10
2	160529	Other prepared or preserved meat	107,612,901.63	12,082,632.33
3	20629	Other frozen boneless meat (goat)	80,315,106.05	30,620,674
4	20421	Fresh or chilled whole/half lamb carcasses	79,662,170.59	2,905,803.90
5	20130	Fresh or chilled boneless bovine meat	45,756,958.15	8,827,904
6	160420	Prepared or preserved fish (reference)	17,574,339.80	4,912,299.04
7	160521	Shrimps and prawns, prepared or preserved	13,236,730.47	1,816,666.62
8	160510	Crabs, prepared or preserved	8,053,108.36	263,326.31
9	20410	Fresh or chilled whole/half sheep carcasses	6,700,602.60	878,837
10	20622	Frozen bovine livers	4,562,608.06	3,610,466

Source: yTrade, HS 02 and HS 16 export data by subheading, January–July 2026.

India is the world's third-largest bovine meat exporter, behind Brazil and Australia, as reported by getmarks. India does not permit cattle beef exports, so carabeef carries the whole bovine category. Buffalo meat exports crossed US$5.1 billion in FY 2025-26, up 25.6% year on year, which was the first time the category passed US$5 billion.

Price is why buffalo meat sells so widely with Indian carabeef once traded at roughly US$3,000 per tonne against about US$5,000 for Brazilian beef. Because supply is limited to buffaloes that are past their productive milk years, India exports frozen boneless cuts in bulk to price-sensitive buyers in Southeast Asia, the Gulf and MENA markets.

The second meat export type is sheep and goat meat, where India ships fresh and frozen small ruminant meat mainly to Gulf buyers, who pay a premium for fresh carcasses that meet halal and cold-chain requirements.

Processed and prepared meat is the third type, covering ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat formats, powered by Global Agriculture data showing buffalo meat as the single largest driver of India's 44% livestock export increase in April–August 2026. As a result, buyers sourcing meat from India are most likely sourcing carabeef, with sheep, goat and processed meat as secondary options.

Related read: India Export Spices To Which Countries?

Who Are India's Biggest Meat Exporters?

India's top meat exporters are based in Mumbai, Agra, and New Delhi, with leading names including Allanasons Private Limited and HMA Agro Industries Limited, all verified exporters on yTrade, from yTrade's meat export data from India about top suppliers from January to July 2026:

• Allanasons Private Limited (India): a major buffalo meat processor and exporter based in Mumbai, one of the largest halal meat exporters in India.
• HMA Agro Industries Limited (India): a buffalo meat processor and exporter based in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, operating across multiple slaughter and processing facilities.
• Fair Exports India Private Limited (India): a diversified meat exporter based in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex, handling buffalo and other meat categories.
• Al-Dua Food Processing Private Limited (India): a halal-certified meat processor based in New Delhi, supplying Gulf and Southeast Asian buyers.
• IFF India Frozen Foods Private Limited (India): a frozen meat exporter based in Saraitarin, serving regional and international markets.

#	Verified Supplier	Country of Origin	Value (US$)
1	Allanasons Private Limited	India	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data
2	HMA Agro Industries Limited	India	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data
3	Fair Exports India Private Limited	India	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data
4	Al-Dua Food Processing Private Limited	India	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data
5	IFF India Frozen Foods Private Limited	India	🔒 Unlock yTrade Data

Source: yTrade, HS 02 and HS 16 verified supplier records, January–July 2026. Shipment counts available on request.

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Conclusion

yTrade's HS 02 and HS 16 export records rank Vietnam first among meat export from India destinations in H1 2026 at US$273.61 million, ahead of Egypt at US$181.75 million and Malaysia at US$176.31 million, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also top meat export partners in India.

Buffalo meat under HS 020230 dominates at US$1.13 billion of total export value, making it the single product that defines India's meat export statistics. India's livestock exports grew 44% in April–August 2026, and buffalo meat is on track to cross $6 billion in FY 2026-27 as Vietnam, Egypt and Gulf buyers continue to expand their orders.

FAQ

Is India the 2nd highest beef exporter?

India is among the world's largest exporters of buffalo meat, which is classified as beef in international trade. In recent years India has ranked as the second or third largest beef exporter globally by volume, behind Brazil, based on USDA and APEDA data. Buffalo meat export from India statistics place the full-year FY 2025-26 total at $5.1 billion, and India is forecast to cross $6 billion in FY 2026-27.

What are the top 10 meat exporters in India?

Top verified meat exporters from India on yTrade include Allanasons Private Limited (Mumbai), HMA Agro Industries Limited (Agra), Fair Exports India Private Limited (Mumbai), Al-Dua Food Processing Private Limited (New Delhi) and IFF India Frozen Foods Private Limited. Most large Indian meat exporters are based in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi, operating APEDA-registered, halal-certified processing plants.

How to export meat from India?

To export meat from India, your processing facility must be registered with APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) and hold halal certification if you are supplying Gulf, Southeast Asian or MENA buyers. You also need an IEC (Importer Exporter Code) from the DGFT, health certificates from the state Animal Husbandry Department, and a Shipping Bill filed through ICEGATE. Buffalo meat exports also require FSSAI compliance and an export licence for specified categories.